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Dismissed8 October 20253363179

Former Science Buildings, Olantigh Road, Wye, TN25 5EJ

Planning appeal 3363179 at Former Science Buildings, Olantigh Road, Wye, TN25 5EJ (Ashford Borough Council) was dismissed on 8 October 2025 by Inspector Owen A, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposal on biodiversity.

demolition of former educational buildings and the redevelopment of the site to provide 11 family homes, together with access and landscaping

Authority
Ashford Borough Council
Appeal type
major · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
residential · Major dwellings
Inspector
Owen A
Postcode
TN25 5EJ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • the effect of the proposal on biodiversity
  • the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area including the National Landscape
  • whether the development would provide a suitable mix of housing
  • whether the proposal would provide acceptable living conditions for its future occupiers in respect of the outdoor amenity space

What decided it

The inability to demonstrate that the development would not have an adverse effect on the integrity of the Stodmarsh Lakes European site due to unresolved concerns about the effectiveness of proposed nutrient mitigation measures.

The significant benefit of 11 homes during a housing land supply shortfall, together with benefits of brownfield reuse, economic benefits, and biodiversity net gain, did not outweigh the very substantial weight of the potential adverse impact on the integrity of the Stodmarsh Lakes European site.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
ENV1WNP8ENV9SP1SP6HOU3aWNP2ENV3bWNP1cSP2ENV4HOU18HOU15ENV5
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 11Paragraph 193Paragraph 194Paragraph 195

How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.

See how each was applied

The decision letter

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The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.

In the app this decision sits on the map beside every appeal around it, with its letter to read and the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out.